Optical fiber coupling apparatuses, systems, and methods

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to optical fiber coupling systems and methods of coupling optical fibers across and with a magnetic field.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An optical fiber coupling system comprising:
 a first optical fiber comprising a first magnetic collar attached coaxially to a proximal end of the first optical fiber; 
 a second optical fiber comprising a second magnetic collar attached coaxially to a proximal end of the second optical fiber, wherein the second magnetic collar is attached to the proximal end of the second fiber so as to have a polarity at a coupling end of the second magnetic collar adjacent a terminus of the proximal end of the second optical fiber, which polarity is opposite a polarity of a coupling end of the first magnetic collar adjacent to a terminus of the proximal end of the first optical fiber; and a spacer attached to at least one of the first optical fiber and the first magnetic collar, the spacer protruding beyond the first magnetic collar with respect to the proximal end of the first optical fiber so as to be positioned between the coupling end of first magnetic collar and the coupling end of the second magnetic collar upon magnetic engagement of a magnetic field of the coupling end of the first magnetic collar with a magnetic field of the coupling end of the second magnetic collar, wherein the spacer is configured to maintain a gap between the first magnetic collar and the second magnetic collar across which the magnetic fields engage one another, whereby the second magnetic collar abuts the spacer, wherein the spacer is configured to allow an optical signal to pass from the first optical fiber to the second optical fiber. 
 
     
     
       2. The optical fiber coupling system of  claim 1 , wherein the spacer comprises an opening through which the optical signal can pass. 
     
     
       3. The optical fiber coupling system of  claim 2 , wherein the opening has a cross section that is smaller than a cross section of the coupling end of second magnetic collar. 
     
     
       4. The optical fiber coupling system of  claim 2 , wherein the opening has a cross section that is smaller than a cross section of the coupling end of the first magnetic collar and the coupling end of the second magnetic collar. 
     
     
       5. The optical fiber coupling system of  claim 1 , wherein the spacer has a tapered cross section. 
     
     
       6. The optical fiber coupling system of  claim 1 , wherein the spacer is composed of a non-magnetic material. 
     
     
       7. The optical fiber coupling system of  claim 1 , wherein the spacer is configured as a concentric collar. 
     
     
       8. The optical fiber coupling system of  claim 1 , wherein the first magnetic collar and the second magnetic collar have distinct cross sectional areas at the respective coupling ends. 
     
     
       9. The optical fiber coupling system of  claim 1 , wherein the spacer includes a recessed region configured for nesting the second magnetic collar. 
     
     
       10. The optical fiber coupling system of  claim 1 , wherein the spacer is configured to maintain the gap at a distance in the range of 2-10 microns. 
     
     
       11. The optical fiber coupling system of  claim 1 , wherein the spacer is configured to coaxially align the coupling end of the first magnetic collar with the coupling end of the second magnetic collar. 
     
     
       12. The optical fiber coupling system of  claim 1 , wherein a distal end of the first optical fiber extends from the first magnetic collar to a light source. 
     
     
       13. The optical fiber coupling system of  claim 1 , wherein a distal end of the second optical fiber extends from the second magnetic collar to into a keratoprosthesis. 
     
     
       14. The optical fiber coupling system of  claim 1 , wherein a distal end of the second optical fiber extends from the second magnetic collar into an intraocular lens. 
     
     
       15. The optical fiber coupling system of  claim 1 , further comprising a pressure sensor positioned on the coupling end of the second magnetic collar. 
     
     
       16. The optical fiber coupling system of  claim 1 , wherein the respective one of the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber attached to the spacer is configured to move with respect to the spacer. 
     
     
       17. The optical fiber coupling system of  claim 16 , wherein the respective one of the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber attached to the spacer is configured to rotate with respect to the spacer. 
     
     
       18. A method of coupling optical fibers for communicatively transmitting optical signals, the method comprising:
 coaxially attaching a first magnetic collar to a proximal end of a first optical fiber; 
 coaxially attaching a second magnetic collar to a proximal end of a second optical fiber, wherein the second magnetic collar is attached to the proximal end of the second fiber so as to have a polarity at a coupling end of the second magnetic collar adjacent a terminus of the proximal end of the second optical fiber, which polarity is opposite a polarity of a coupling end of the first magnetic collar adjacent to a terminus of the proximal end of the first optical fiber; 
 attaching a spacer to at least one of the first optical fiber and the first magnetic collar such that the spacer protrudes beyond the first magnetic collar with respect to the proximal end of the first optical fiber; and 
 positioning the first magnetic collar with respect to the second magnetic collar so that the spacer is positioned between the coupling end of the first magnetic collar and the coupling end of the second magnetic collar, so that the second magnetic collar abuts the spacer, so that a magnetic field of the coupling end of the second magnetic collar engages a magnetic field of the coupling end of the first magnetic collar, whereby the spacer maintains a gap between the first magnetic collar and the second magnetic collar across which the magnetic fields engage one another, and so that an optical signal is configured to pass from the first optical fiber to the second optical fiber. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 18 , further comprising transmitting the optical signal from the first optical fiber to the second optical fiber through the spacer and across the gap. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 19 , further comprising rotating the first optical fiber with respect to the second optical fiber. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 19 , wherein positioning comprising coaxially aligning the terminus of the first optical fiber with the terminus of the second optical fiber. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 19 , wherein the first optical fiber is positioned with respect to the second optical fiber so that the gap is at a distance in the range of 1 nm-2000 microns. 
     
     
       23. A method of coupling optical fibers for communicatively transmitting optical signals, the method comprising:
 coaxially attaching a first magnetic collar to a proximal end of a first optical fiber; coaxially attaching a second magnetic collar to a proximal end of a second optical fiber, wherein the second magnetic collar is attached to the proximal end of the second fiber so as to have a polarity at a coupling end of the second magnetic collar adjacent a terminus of the proximal end of the second optical fiber, which polarity is opposite a polarity of a coupling end of the first magnetic collar adjacent to a terminus of the proximal end of the first optical fiber; 
 positioning the first magnetic collar with respect to the second magnetic collar so that a gap is between the coupling end of the first magnetic collar and the coupling end of the second magnetic collar, so that a magnetic field of the coupling end of the second magnetic collar engages a magnetic field of the coupling end of the first magnetic collar; and causing an optical signal to be passed from the first optical fiber to the second optical fiber across the gap. 
 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 23 , wherein the first magnetic collar and the first optical fiber are attached to a movable slit lamp, the first optical fiber movable with respect to the slit lamp, the slit lamp configured to move with respect to the second magnetic collar to engage the magnetic field of the coupling end of the second magnetic collar with the magnetic field of the coupling end of the first magnetic collar with the gap positioned therebetween during transmission of the optical signal from the first optical fiber to the second optical fiber. 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 23 , wherein the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber are positioned within a chamber comprising a refractive index matching liquid. 
     
     
       26. The method of  claim 23 , further comprising rotating at least one of the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber in the chamber.